Gainesville school officials may place rifles in three schools

GAINESVILLE - With school violence a growing problem across the nation, the Gainesville City School Board Tuesday night discussed the possibility of placing rifles in the city schools, so that school resource officers would have easier access to weapons.

Superintendent Dr. Merriane Dyer said if the proposal is okayed, the weapons would be placed at Gainesville High School, Gainesville Middle School and Woods Mill Academy.

"There are three gun safes [one in each school] that would keep the guns under lock that would be located in the office of the school resource officer, which would also be locked," said Dyer.

Because policies at each school in the Gainesville District are controlled by School Governance Councils, those councils will have to look at the proposal and give feedback to the board before a vote can take place.

A vote on the plan is likely at the October board meeting, according to Dyer.

Gainesville City Schools and the Gainesville Police Department are holding a news conference Wednesday afternoon to further discuss the plan. Please watch for further details on this story.